Rogers County Resident Latest West Nile Virus Death

The Oklahoma State Department of Health says a Rogers County resident is the state's third West Nile virus death of 2015.  

The two previous deaths were reported in Stephens and Carter counties.  

OSDH says there has been a total of 42 confirmed cases of West Nile virus in Oklahoma this year, up from 18 in 2014 when there were no deaths due to the virus.  

Both the greatest number of cases and deaths in Oklahoma due to the virus was in 2012 when there were 176 cases with 15 resulting in death.  

The West Nile virus is spread primarily through the bite of the Culex mosquito -- which increases in numbers during mid to late summer when temperatures rise and the weather is dry.

8/20/2015 Related Story: First Human Case Of West Nile Virus Confirmed In Tulsa County

The Associated Press contributed to this report.